Page 10 of Swindled By a Spinster
Collapsed against the edge of the desk, Torrance stared out the glass planes and reviewed his conversation with his kidnapper. The woman was extremely well informed. Bloody hell, how had she known of his very recent resignation?
He held the curtains back to let in the moonlight and glanced once more about the room. The study appeared similarly styled and furnished to a wealthy peer’s country estate. Who was this captor who had dared to steal from the Royal Treasury, and what did she really want?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Exhausted of all her patience, Phoebe marched over the group of all male agents gathered in the corner of Lord Archbroke’s enormous office within the Home Office headquarters and squeezed herself between Lord Foxton and Lord Archbroke. “We are no closer to locating Lord Kilman than we were three days ago. I suggest…”
Lord Archbroke interrupted her, “If you and Lady Ruth had been more forthcoming with the information you had gathered during your last…” The man stopped mid-sentence and glared at her.
From the set of the man’s displeased features, Phoebe assumed Lord Archbroke had stopped himself from referring to her unsanctioned mission. Over the past few days, the man had taken advantage of every opportunity he had to harp on protocols and how everyone under his purview should follow them to the letter.
Jaw clenched, Lord Archbroke continued, “We are working diligently to factor in the details you recently provided the team. Every piece of information should not be considered in isolation but as a piece of a larger picture. I’m just as displeased as you are that we have yet to find that one clue that will help usunravel this mess and identify those responsible for Kilman’s disappearance.”
Bah. Honey trickled faster than the team of agents Archbroke had assembled. The men had discussed every aspect ad nauseum, but Lord Archbroke had yet to act upon the many leads she believed to be worthy of further investigation. Without Kilman, her voice and opinions fell upon deaf ears.
Lord Foxton tapped her elbow and nodded his head in the direction of the fireplace.
She took a few steps back. The circle of men closed the space she vacated and continued to debate the likelihood of Kilman being detained in London or elsewhere.
She wanted to stomp out of the room and leave the bloody men to their own devices, but then no one would alert her to Lord Archbroke’s plans. Instead she compromised and took Lord Foxton’s suggestion to move closer to fire. Phoebe crossed her arms over her chest and paced back and forth, soaking up the warmth from flames. At the very least, Lord Archbroke should have agreed to hear her suggestions. Granted she wasn’t an agent like the others, but she’d been an informant and a very reliable one at that. Kilman often praised her ability to filter out the nonsense and identify the key facts spread about through the gossip mill.
Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned to find Lord Foxton staring down at her. “If you stay, Archbroke will stubbornly follow protocol which will continue to slow our progress.”
“Are you asking me to leave?”
“Yes. Yes, I am.” Lord Foxton let out a long sigh. “Lillian and Ruth are awaiting you at my townhome. And Letty and Danny are out front waiting to accompany you.”
“But I wish to stay.”
Lord Foxton glanced back over his shoulder and then leaned down so only she could hear. “I promise to send word if we discover anything.” His gaze flicked over her shoulder and he quickly added, “The three of you succeeded in tracking down the thieves once before. I’m hoping you will again.”
Aside from Kilman, rarely had a gentleman placed his trust in Phoebe and her abilities. With a nod she said, “You’re right.”
Lillian and Ruth would listen to her suggestions, and with their assistance she might be able to locate Kilman faster than Lord Archbroke. There was no time to waste. She curtsied and bid Lord Foxton a quick goodbye.
Unlike the darknessthat enveloped every room of Phoebe’s home, Lord Foxton’s London residence was brightly lit with candles from the first step inside.
“Finally!” Lillian skipped the last step with a hop and rushed across the marble foyer toward Phoebe. “We’ve been waiting all morning for you. I was about to go fetch you myself.”
The Foxton butler took her cloak and gloves mere moments before Lillian grabbed her by the hand to lead her up the stairs.
The first door on the second floor swung open and Ruth appeared. “Thank goodness you have arrived.”
“My apologies,” Phoebe replied as she was pulled into the room, which was like nothing she expected.
She stood in the middle of a brightly lit yet cozy private retreat. Two of the walls were lined with bookshelves floor to ceiling with volumes crammed upon every shelf. Phoebe walked over to study the titles and ran a finger over the leather bindings as she walked the length of the wall. If she had such a place to escape to, she’d never leave. The smell of aged parchment, thetwinkle of candlelight reflecting off the gold and silver spines, filled Phoebe with wonder. Wonder at the worlds she could explore on the pages of all these books.
Ruth whispered next to her, “Foxton has always spoiled his sister, to a fault in my opinion.”
“Bah. David merely wished for me to leave him be and stay out of his way.” Lillian swept her hand in front of her to encompass the room. “This…this was his way of distracting me and his attempt to keep me out of trouble.”
A giggle bubbled up and escaped Phoebe. “Well, I’d say his plan failed, but at least it failed in grand fashion.”
Lillian smiled and walked over to the sideboard. “Have Lord Archbroke and his men managed to glean anything of use?” Lillian poured a dark amber liquid into three glasses. With two glasses in hand, Lillian offered one to Ruth before making her way to stand next to Phoebe. “DoesLord Archbroke have a plan?”
Phoebe took the glass offered to her and made the mistake of sniffing its contents. Nose wrinkled, she answered, “No.”
Settled upon the settee with her glass already half empty, Ruth asked, “Aside from describing the men who held us captive, did you share anything else?”
